There are moms who watch soccer and there are moms who play soccer and the latter has redefined the term soccer mom and the growing interest in organized play for women.
Kings Park resident Diane Tabone is one of the women who make up the Kings Park Liberty Soccer Team, an over 40 group that plays under the umbrella of the Longs Island Ladies Soccer League and has been in existence for six years.
Most of the players played on the over 26 league until they turned 40. The team has 20 members, 18 of which showed up to play on a recent and rainy Saturday.
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“Most of us have been playing over twenty years,” said Tabone.
They didn’t even have girl’s soccer when I was in high school,” said Tabone who grew up in Huntington. “They only had a boy’s team.”
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When Tabone moved to Kings Park she began playing soccer as an adult and has been playing ever since.
“Most of us didn’t play as kids. They didn’t have women’s soccer back in the day.”
Tabone, who says she has always been athletic, ran track and competed in gymnastics in high school.
“I learned soccer from playing it. We had coaches and trainers. Initially I sat out a lot, then I understood the game.”
Chris Walsh, 62 of Farmingdale began playing since she was in her thirties. She has three children who are grown and married.
“When my older son was in third grade they needed coaches,” Walsh said. “I took out books and began learning soccer. That’s just when the Long Island Ladies Soccer League formed. It started with six or eight teams then grew to six or eight divisions. We got to play competitive games.”
It is a game that she loves, one that provides her with an outlet for stress as well as a place to see friends.
“No matter what’s going on you just go out there and play,” she said. “It’s a great release. I love the camaraderie of the friends I’ve made over the years.”
And, Walsh points out it’s not expensive to play. It costs $50 to play for a season, $25 to register for the team and $24 for referee fees.
Joyce Bahr, 68, who has been playing for 30 years has had two arthroscopic knee surgeries but that doesn’t stop her.
“I love sports and I love being outdoors,” she said. “I'm going to keep playing as long as I can.”
“It’s a competitive sport you can still play even though you’re older,” Tabone said. “It’s faster than golf and a better workout. You can go to a gym and go on the elliptical but what’s better than playing with friends outside and kicking the ball around.”
No experience is necessary to join the league which has five divisions ranging from 26 and over teams to over 40. The Liberty currently rank in 4th place out of eleven teams in the over 40 division.
“There’s always a team that can be matched up with a player,” Tabone said. “Why let the kids have all the fun.”
If you’d like to get involved in the over 40 soccer league go to the Long Island Ladies Soccer League website at Liladiessoccer.com or contact Diane Tabone at kikher@optonline.net
